Applicator device



Q ay 4, 1937. B. A. SCHMITTER 2,079,469

APPLICATOR DEVICE Filed June 14, 1934 Patented May 4, 1937 UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE '7 Claims.

. This invention relates to improvements in fluid applicator devices and more particularly to devices of this nature in which the quantity of fluid delivered to the applicator may be controlled, as is desirable when applying cleaning fluid to a cloth and the like.

The invention will be fully understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which, I Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a container in which the applicator is located on the upper end and Fig. 1a is an enlarged showing of the cap construction illustrated in combination with the container in Fig. 1;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the container shown in Fig. 1 showing the container in active use;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a container partly in section, in which the applicator is aflixed to the lower end; and

Figs. 4 and 5 are vertical section views of variations of the cap construction shown in Fig. 1.

Referring particularly to the drawing and especially to Figs. 1 and la, reference numeral I designates a container in which means are provided for exerting pressure upon the contents thereof. For the purpose of illustrating the invention the container shown is one having at least two inwardly flexible walls adapted to exert the required pressure upon the contents thereof when said walls are so flexed. Numeral 2 designates a pad of absorbent material which in this instance is affixed to the top of the container by insertion in an upwardly opening compartment 6 in an annular member or cap 4 for the spout of the container. The compartment 6 is formed by an inner, perforated transverse member 5 so positioned as to form also a substantially deeper downwardly opening compartment I. A tube 3 is aflixed to the lower side of the transverse member 5, below the perforation and depends within the container into close proximity to the bottom when the cap is aflixed. A perforated disc-shaped liner 8 is insertable in the compartment 7 around the tube and against the transverse member 5. Reference numeral 9 designates the air space in the container above the level of the contents.

Fig. 2 is an illustration of the container I showing the relation of the inner end of the tube 3 to the air space 9 when the applicator is in active use in cleaning a material designated by the numeral I 0.

Fig. 3 illustrates an alternative construction comprising a container Ia to which the absorbent pad 2:: has been aflixed at the bottom, within the receptacle formed by the downward extension of the container sides beyond the bottom. It is possible of course to provide a cap for the container bottom to avoid soiling the pad when the device is set aside. It is also possible that the spout on the container be disposed of and provision made to fill the container from the bottom before aflixing the absorbent pad. The essential parts in this construction, however, are substantially the same as in that shown in Figs. 1 and la, altho in this instance the applicator is in position for active use when the container is in an upright position.

Fig. 4 illustrates an assembly of applicator parts similar to that shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 1a altho in this instance the tube 3 has a flange I I at its upper end extending outwardly into fluid tight engagement with the spout of the con tainer and by means of which flange the tube is suspended within the container in the position previously mentioned. The tightness of the joint between the nozzle may be maintained by washer I2 inserted between the tube flange and the spout, or as in Fig. 5 the flange I I may be crimped over the top of the spout to accomplish the same purpose.

In most instances of course it is desirable to provide means for sealing the tube so as to prevent evaporation orleakage when the applicator is not in use. This may be done in various ways for instance, in the construction shown in Figs. 1, 1a, 4, and 5 either the transverse member 5 may be imperforate but perforable at a point coinciding with the position of the tube, or a disc of non-absorbent compressible material such as treated paper may be inserted in the upper compartment of the annular cap below the absorbent pad, or both expedients may be used. Similarly in the structures shown by Figs. 4. and 5, for the flange II shown on the end of the tube 3, an imperforate disc may be substituted which will be perforable at the point of attachment of the tube to the under side of the disc. If in this instance a disc of non-absorbent material is also used it is preferable to insert it in the lower compartment of the annular cap between the liner 8 and the transverse member 5.

In the structure shown in Fig. 3 a seal of nonabsorbent, compressible material, shaped to fit the bottom of the container may be inserted above the absorbent pad, and/or the container bottom may be made imperforate but perforable at the point of attachment of the tube 3.

In operation, the container, after the seals have been broken or removed, is held in position with the absorbent pad 2 uppermost and, by the means provided, sufficient pressure is exerted upon the contents to force thru the tube 3, the quantity required to saturate or moisten the absorbent pad 2. Due to the fact that this quantity may be nicely controlled, the device lends itself to uses for which conventional devices of this general nature are not suitable.

When the absorbent pad has been suitably wetted, the position of the container is reversed and the pad applied to the material or point of use as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. It is to be especially noted that during this active use of the applicator, the tube 3 extends above the level of the remaining contents of the container, into the air space in the container, so that it is impossible for the pad to become supersaturated or for an undesirably large quantity of the containers contents to come in contact with the material to which it is being applied.

While this device is primarily intended for the application of highly volatile fluids to fabrics in order to remove spots, it may conveniently be adapted to other comparable uses and various changes may be made within the scope of the appended claims in which it is desired to claim all novelty inherent in the invention as broadly as the prior art permits.

I claim:

1. An applicator device comprising 2. container for liquids, a pad of absorbent material afiixed to one end of the container, a tube having imperforate walls positioned within the container and affixed thereto with its outer end terminating below and adjacent to the absorbent pad and its inner end extending into close proximity to the opposite end of the container, and means integral with the container to exert pressure on the liquid therein to forcibly deliver liquid through the tube to the absorbent pad only when said. pad is uppermost.

2. An applicator device according to claim 1 in which the absorbent pad and the tube are affixed to the bottom of the container, said tube extending upwardly and opening into the air space within the spout of the container.

3. An applicator device according to claim 1 in which the absorbent pad is afiixed to a cap for the nozzle of said container and the tube is suspended within the container from the under side of a perforable disc engaging the nozzle of the container.

4. In combination with a liquid container having a spout, a cap for the spout comprising an annular member of greater length than the spout having an inner, perforated, transverse member formed within the angular member in spaced relationship to one end thereof and forming therewith an upwardly opening compartment and a substantially deeper downwardly opening compartment, a pad of absorbent material disposed within the upper compartment and projecting therefrom, a tube, aflixed to and suspended from the transverse member below the perforation therein, adapted to extend into the container to close proximity with the bottom thereof, a perforated disc shaped liner around the tube and adjacent to the lower face of the transverse member and means associated with said annular member for sealing the tube when the device is not in use.

5. An applicator device according to claim 4 in which the means for sealing the tube comprises an imperforate but perforable transverse member, within the annular member, to which the tube is affixed and from which it depends.

6. In combination with a liquid container having a spout and a cap for the spout, an applicator device comprising an annular cap for the spout having an inner, perforated, transverse member positioned in spaced relationship to one end of the cap, forming with the cap an upwardly opening compartment and a substantially deeper downwardly opening compartment, a pad of absorbent material in the upper compartment, and a perforated disc shaped liner in the lower compartment adjacent to the transverse member, a tube, having a flange at its upper end extending outwardly into fluid tight engagement with the container spout, dependent within the container with its lower end in close proximity to the bottom of the container and a seal for the tube.

'7. An applicator device according to claim 6 in which the tube has attached to its upper end a disc extending outwardly to fluid tight engagement with the spout, said disc being perforable at the point of attachment to the tube.

BERNARD A. SCHMITTER. 

